DaxShepard

The news last week that NBC had renewed 'Parenthood' for a second season was not a big surprise. Yes, the show had a rocky start, considering that it was forced into a midseason premiere because producers had to recast actress Maura Tierney's role while she was battling breast cancer. But since then, it has been well-received and even bested its main competition Tuesdays at 10PM ET, 'The Good Wife,' a few times in the ratings. So there was every reason for NBC to give the Ron Howard/Brian Grazer production a second season. It earned it.

The show has actually been getting better. It's on its way to becoming a hit, and with just a few changes in the season to come, it could succeed. We've narrowed it down to four specifics, our suggestions for how 'Parenthood' could get even better than it is right now. Read our list and then weigh in with your thoughts.

First of all, a big Woot! that 'Parenthood' was picked up for a second season. That's awesome! And second, many thanks to Danny Gallagher for allowing me to take over the reviews on this show. Not only do I love it, but my daughter does, too, so it's always fun to watch stuff together.

On 'Parenthood' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC) a father attends his son's birthday party, but things don't go exactly as planned. Absentee dad Crosby (Dax Shehard) shows up for son Jabbar's birthday. But Crosby has missed most of his kid's childhood, and his extended family is not exactly pleased when he arrives at the party.

(S01E07) "Would you boys like to come over for a play date?" - Yoga girl to Crosby

I love 'Parenthood.' Yes, there's a lot of people to keep track of, but it's all good. The show has some great players, but really, all I need is Peter Krause and Lauren Graham. And Dax Shepard and Jason Ritter. He reminds me of his dad, which makes me both happy and sad, but mostly happy.

The kids on this show are awesome, too -- Max Burkholder, Mae Whitman, Tyree Brown ... ok, since I'm filling in for Danny, I'll stop crushing on all the actors and get to the review. Follow me after the jump.

So what is the purpose of a "play-date" with your children, anyway? Well, for the adults, you're probably not meant to be on an actual date, or to get some "play." (Ahem.) On the latest episode of 'Parenthood' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC), Crosby (Dax Shepard) gets in a little trouble for messing around with a hot mother while on a play-date with his child.

(S01E06) "Wow, Crosby, you're a dad." - Zeek, after hearing about Crosby's son for the first time

I'll admit it. 'Parenthood' has been a hard show to read. It tries very hard to connect the audience with the human drama of the American family, but at the same time, it expects you to understand and appreciate every problem they come across.

It drags you through their cornfield of sadness and expects you to come out feeling as happy and reserved as the characters do in the end. It makes me wish life actually worked this way. Then it just makes me angrier.

The drama 'Parenthood' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC) is all about family -- in case you couldn't have guessed that already from the title. But sometimes, parenthood can take many unusual forms. On the latest episode of the show, Crosby Braverman (Dax Shepard) introduces his son to his parents (played by Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia). Things don't go necessarily as everyone might want, but that doesn't mean that things go badly.

(S01E05) It's really getting hard to watch 'Parenthood,' and not in a "Gee, this show is so painfully real that it makes me question the true nature of love and family devotion" kind of way.

It's quite the opposite.

The seams are really starting to show as the episodes try to stretch across an entire season. It now feels so unbelievable because of the lackluster characters and dialogue that I'm starting to feel just as bored as the people look on the screen.

Having a baby is a big step, but it's even more complicated when you learn that your partner already has a child you knew nothing about. Imagine Katie's surprise to hear that Crosby has a son on 'Parenthood' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC).

"I'm sure it was confusing, but you've also been sneaking around and hiding him, and keeping him from me for over a month," she says. And she's right, of course. Crosby should have told her as soon as he learned the truth. We're with Katie on this one.

(S01E03) "You know Crosby, however hard you think it is having a kid, just double it." - Adam to Crosby as Crosby cleans kid puke out of his car

This week, things have slowed down a bit, compared to the land speed record that last week's episode achieved. And the show has started to grow on me a little bit.

It scored some great moments of sentiment and honest drama that were endearing and drew me a little closer to the characters, but it's still lacking in that other, all important area of the dramedy: the comedy.

(S01E02) "I can deal with anything: disease, illness, broken bone. Give me something I can fix, but I don't know how to deal with this. This is for life." - Adam to Kristina after learning that Max has Asperger's Syndrome

Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

And while that bit of movie trivia is actually true (unlike say "Stupid is as stupid does" or "Pain don't hurt"), if actual life went at the speed that 'Parenthood' does, stopping to look at it would require some kind of anti-lock braking system.

You're minding your own business, strolling down the street, when all of a sudden, you see your ex standing there. No problem, you think. A little friendly chatter and you'll be on your way.

Not so fast there, our clueless friend. If your ex calls for her son to come over and meet "his dad," your life as you know it is over. Just ask Crosby on 'Parenthood' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC). He'll tell you.

On Monday's 'The Bonnie Hunt Show' (weekdays, syndicated), Dax Shepard revealed that his father regularly gets into shoving matches at Costco over food samples. "Like there's a limited amount, you're at Costco, I'm sure they can find more," Shepherd quipped. "But he's in panic mode. He'll regularly call me: 'I got into it with this clown over at Costco, he's trying to get all the pigs in a blanket'." What's worse is when his dad recruits him for backup in case there's an altercation at a gas station. Better pump up, Dax!

After what has been a long time coming, NBC's new version of 'Parenthood' is finally premiering tomorrow night. And if the anticipation wasn't already high, TV Squad received an unexpected, very nice little invitation to tune in from Opie himself. Or Richie Cunningham if you prefer.

Yes, that's right, Ron Howard, the executive producer of 'Parenthood,' did a handful of shout-outs to the media and we were included. Aren't we special?